As hundreds of Syrians fought and died for their freedom, President Bashar al-Assad and his wife ordered Harry Potter films and pop music, a sweeping new investigation from The Guardian reveals.

The English newspaper obtained thousands of emails it says are the personal accounts belonging to al-Assad and his wife, Asma.

Activists say a disgruntled al-Assad insider leaked addresses and passwords, and they were able to monitor conversations in real time.

“It was clear who we were dealing with,” an activist told The Guardian. “This was the president and his wife. There was no doubt.”

The Telegraph reported that the Guardian could not rule out the possibility of forgery.

The emails, which were shut down after Anonymous hacked the Syrian government's computer, showed al-Assad receiving advice on everything from strategy to media relations from a trusted circle of advisers that included sources inside Iran and Hezbollah, Foreign Policy reported.

Iranian contacts urged al-Assad to “tighten the security grip” as western journalists began reporting from Homs.

The Guardian published its investigation as Russia's foreign minister showed irritation with al-Assad, stating that the ruler has been slow to implement the long-needed reforms in Syria.

“Regrettably, he hasn’t always followed our advice in his activities,” Sergey Lavrov told the Associated Press. “He has approved useful laws reviving the system and making it more pluralistic. But it has been done after a long delay, and the proposals about launching a dialogue also have been slow to come. Meanwhile, the armed confrontation is expanding and its inertia may sweep and engulf all.”

The emails bring to light a bumbling regime, the Telegraph wrote. At one point, a trusted source told al-Assad to stop blaming al Qaeda for attacks inside Syria.

“I have received contacts from Iran and Hezbollah in my role as director of many Iranian-Lebanese channels and they directed me to not mention that al Qaeda is behind the operation,” Lebanese executive Hussein Mortada wrote, The Guardian reported. “It is a blatant tactical media mistake.”

Meanwhile, GlobalPost reported earlier that ordinary Syrians are suffering under the now crippled economy. State oil revenues have been slashed under international sanctions. Tourism is nonexistent, and confidence in the economy is at an all-time low. Staples like rice and eggs have tripled in price over the year, while cooking oil has doubled, according to residents of the capital.

Over the past year, Asma shopped for shoes and furniture worth thousands of dollars using fake names and foreign addresses. The couple used iPhones and iPads to order music on iTunes by Chris Brown, LMFAO, Blake Shelton, New Order and even Right Said Fred.

Asma also received warnings from friends suggesting the Assads flee Damascus.

Mayassa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar’s daughter, urged Asma to snap out of the “state of denial” regarding “the opportunity for real change."

“I only pray that you will convince the president to take this an opportunity to exit without having to face charges,” she wrote. “The region needs to stabilize, but not more than you need peace of mind. I am sure you have many places to turn to, including Doha.”

soundoff(84 Responses)

I wonder how much Noise you the media would have made if they found out he was using piratebay. CNN has become a tabloid. The only stories i see here nowadays are all gossip.....hearsay from "activists" which is then made into the headline of the day even though at the end theres a disclaimer that the story may or may not be utter bullcrap.

Here we go again with more anti-Assad right-wing bla-bla-bla!!! The right-wing media won't tell us that both Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Ben Ali in Tunisia were thrown out by their own people and both were strongly pro-Washington. Never at ant given time did the right-wing news media say anything against them while today it's bashing Bashar al-Assad to no end!!!

Yes T.KH, CNN is just as right-wing as the other media. Only FOX is a bit more right-wing. Actually both Obama and Cameron are war criminals who need to be brought to justice! This the right-wing media won't talk about!

I think he was talking about the people that one seargent killed in a rampage recently. But Obama actually did apologize for that, and that soldier is on trial and may die for his crimes.

So, I'm missing the point here.

March 15, 2012 at 3:01 pm |

S.V.P.YADAV

Respected, Mr. David Trifunov Garu, Syrean great President Mr. Assad and his wife Smt. Asma Garu entertain with Harry porter Films and PoP Music, that was the allegation on GPS. My dear Mr. david Garu above said entertainers coming from U S. That was sended by U S White House, Bucauce , Previous allegations all falldown in front of wrold community.So U S having only this chance, that also they utilised. In my veredict, This allegation is sheme full to U S.

Who does Al Assad think he is kidding? This type of regime never works out in the end....ever. Its just a matter of time that things work out for Syria just like it has for other countries who s people have struggled against dictatorship and for democracy. I wonder which country will be next?...stay tuned :)

I have a very basic approach to the world affairs when it comes to unsettled nations and problems which occur on a daily basis. It seems that the United Nations need to be more resilient and become more involved. They need to gather facts be objective and present the situation to the members of the council.
It is at the UN where the problems should be presented discussed and solved.
As an American, I humbling consider myself a isolationist. However, if gene-side is happening, it is the world community which should take action. The US is not the police; we simply follow the direction pointed by the UN as should all of its members.
Nuclear threat is not just in Iran. It is all around us. Terrorist should be the main concern, not a country that can be watched ever so close and neutralize in a matter of minutes.
I think we as a world community need to reorganize and reevaluate the world's tense areas and vote on the action to take as a United Nations.

It should have been that way since the U.N. was placed into action. It just does not seem to work the way you speak and many of us think it should be. People have to open their eyes and not be sooooooooo left winged or soooooo rightwinged or an extreemist that thay can not see in between or any others reasons but their own. It is sad the world should be a big ball of friendly trade.

Good point but the legitimacy of the UN was weakened in 2003 when GWB ejected UN inspectors from Iraq prematurely and invaded and destabilized that country! Some of its steam returned this year when we were able to get international support for intervention to end the bloodshed in Libya! I agree with you that the UN should do more to bring about peace and tsability around the world, yet its easier said than done because we see how two permanent security counsel members nations in China and Russia could make the UN ineffective and look foolish when they walked out and failed to support military intervention to end the bloodshed in Syria!

I guess once again CNN is gossiping about things they cannot "INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY". Provide us not links to you tube videos, we will look at them and keep wondering if they are staged. If Al-Assad is listening to I-tunes because he is a little stressed out, I won't blame him.
There is just 2 questions in the mind of Americans today.

1. What is really going on in Syria- a clear and non partial account from "verifiable sources".

2. What does the "Whole World" including United states can do about it.

3. Is it our Place to intervene ?

I also have another question. CIA fact book over the years have never shown Syria to be a rich nation, which is besides the point. The real question is where is the Syrian opposition getting the funding to arm themselves to oppose the regime of Al Assad. My understanding is that the average person in Syria was barely getting by before all this happened.

The way I look at it, someone other than the Syrians want Al- Assad out of his presidency and Al-Assad is fighting to stay in power by crushing any armed uprising in his country. If I am wrong show me some "verifiable" evidence that I am wrong. Americans including me will never be fooled into believing hearsay anymore. Otherwise this will just be regarded as propaganda and more propaganda.... created by people that has other hidden agendas.

For more insight into Middle Eastern affairs including the Arab League and Syria please read the novel - king of Bat'ha - and sequel due out summer 2012 - Tales from the East: Return of Ivanhoe. THis will provide better understanding as to what is happening in the world currently.

No he isnt first of all, obama is....secondly, worng article...assad is killing his own people, thats what this is about...

March 15, 2012 at 3:37 pm |

Joseph McCarthy

Come on, as anyone with half a brain would know, the SEAL TEAM 6 is a highly trained, highly paid team of professional hitmen waiting to take out anybody that the right-wing thugs in Washington don't like. Back on May 2 last, they could just as easily have taken this purported Ussama bin Laden prisoner rather than shooting him down like a dog!!!

So can someone tell me again why no other countries are doing anything except sanctions? Oh, I remember now we have no interests in that country. Since the US has no foreign interests in that country, we just sit back and let them slaughter thousands of innocent people. All sactions are is a simple slap on the wrist.. Bad Al-Assad!!! Give me a break, how many more innocent people will die before we take down this evil dictator? If China & Russia had a consicence they would not have vetoed military action.

Listen to Slipnot – Psychosocial...that describes you Assad...may be you should check your blood for lack of...minerals...
Jack the Ripper was eating people to replenish the metal in his body..did you eat clay as a kid Assad? Killing to replenish?

HOW CAN WE ATTACK IRAN- part 1 of 10 parts.
I USE USA FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN INCREASE THE JETS FIGHTERS IN THAT SIDE.
2- KEEP SOME GOOD FORCE IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT TO DEAL WITH THE SHIIA THUGS WHO WILL SUPPORT IRAN FORM the Iraqi evil government side.
3- keep tanks and jets in Kuwait
4- improve the bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and uae
5- ask Qatar to not help or involve with Iran
6- increase USA sea base and naval strength in Bahrain
7-prepare the submarines in the red sea, Mideastern sea, and the Arabian sea
8- close down the straight of hermoze and increase inspections on Iranians boat and ships
9- keep forces in Turkmenistan north of Iran ,and the turkey borders.
10-keep economic bloc-aid
11- attack with multi nations France, Germany, Italy, holand, and UK ,use every thing you got to finish the mission
12-help with money and arms the resistant ( KURDS, ARABESTAN, LOURS, TURKS, BAHA'I, PERSIANS, BELOOSH, SUNNIS , CHRISTENS , ASSYRIANS GROUP AND MUJAHEDIN KHLAQ FIGHTERS ) use every means of propaganda TV, radios, news and secret short wave radios to teach the masses what to do and where to get weapon and money and how to attack the enemy and destroy the enemy war machine and infrastructures,
13- use virus to attack Iran computers and army computers, destroy their satellites, command and controls, nooks sites,
and attack QUM as the mullahs will hide at their shrines and use it to make fatwas .
14- freeze all Iran assets, stop them from immigrations or coming here as most are using USA and Canada to send money to Hezbollah and Iraqi thugs, stop Ahmad AL jalabi and arrest him as he is one of Iran spies
15-help Dr ayad alawi to take over Iraq as he won the election but Iran put AL maleki instead, Al maleki pretend he is with USA but he is a lire,
16 control the Iran Iraqi boarder and Syria Iraq border by using drones so no shiia can cross to Iran from Iraq and Syria
17- Iraqi kurds can help from north Iraq, the Sunni can help from west Iraq and the resistant can attack from inside Iran
18-Israel can take care of Hezbollah and leash hell if those terrorists Hezbollah attack Israel , that's why we must get red of Syrian regimes now to cut Iran arms before attacking Iran
I will write part 2 in detail on how we can do it .

No bomb, but Iran is a country that sanctions are
America is the only country that has tested the atom bomb, but is backed
I say its wrong because it is the Western media and politicians?
Please judge for yourself?

If America was likely to attack if the attacker is victorious will not wait even a second time.
Iranian province until there is no one Hryfshvn
No sanctions have no effect on America's military equipment and ...

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